Process of and apparatus for distilling



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J. C. PEDEN.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING. No. 349,449. Patented Sept. 21,1886.

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(No Model.) A 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. G. PEDEN.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING. No. 349,449. Patented Sept. 21,1886.

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JOHN C. PEDEN, E LAWRENCEBURC, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND THEBOURBON COPPER AND BRASS WOEKS, OE CINCINNATI, OHI

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR-DISTILLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,449, datedSeptember 21, 1886.

' Application filed June 27, 1884. Serial No. 136,125. v (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN G. PEDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lawrenceburg, in the county of Anderson and State of 5Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processand Apparatus for Distilling, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the process of and apparatusfor distillation of whiskies, and more particularly to the seconddistillation by which the product of the first distillation, calledsingles, is subjected to a double or second distillation, by which it is-freed from the impurities and unpleasant properties that remain afterthe first distillation, and at the same time develop the peculiarqualities and flavor which distinguish what is known as Bourbon whisky.

It consists in providing certain devices or machinery whereby the bestresults can be obtained with economy of fuel; and the novelty consistsin the process and the construction and combination of parts, as will beherewith set forth and specifically claimed.

. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents myimproved apparatus in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 2, Sheet 1,is a plan view of the stirrer. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a transversesectional view of the column. Fig.4, Sheet 2, is a vertical section,showing one of the shelves or pans attached to the inside of the columnand a part of the column cut away. I

The tank A, of any suitable construction, is supplied by a pipe with thesingles or product of the first distillation in such a quantity ormanner as to provide a constant supply for the still. This singles isconveyed from the tank A to the elevated tank E by means of a pump, 13,and pipe D, whence it is drawn off as needed. Both of the tanks A and Eare not essential, as, when a constant-acting pump is used at B, thetank E may be omitted, and

the singles pumped directly into the pipe ll,

and the quantity of fiow regulated by the valvular cock 0. On the otherhand, when more convenient, the product of the first dis- ,the cock H tothe head of the column M.

tillation or spirits to be redistilled may be supplied directly to thetank E, and distributed by gravitation through the pipe G. Thepipe G isprovided'with a distributing 0r three-way cock, H, by which the contentsof the pipe G may be sent through the pipe G or through the pipe I. Thepipe G passes into a drum, J, where it is formed into a coil,and passeson and joins the pipe I at apoint just outside the column M. The pipe Iextends directly from The contents of the pipe I, or of I and G, passinside the head of the column, and are received in the annular space M,formed by the walls of the column and the spherical head,as shown inFig. 1, or they may be deposited directly upon the upper shelf or pan inthe column. The column M consists of a perpendicular tubular shell,usually made of copper in sections bolted together, and is made of anysuitable size and height best suited to the purposes to be served andthe requirements of the still. The lower end of the column, which isOpen, is directly over and opens into the boiler or doubler B, so thatthe steam and vapors gen- 7 erated pass up through the column into the.pipe 0. The column is provided at suitable A distances apart with anumber of shelves or pans, Q. These pans occupy about four-fifths of atransverse section of the column, onefifth being left open for the freepassage of the steamand vapors. They are made of sheet metal, and areprovided with an upturned flange or rim, which serves to. strengthen andstiffen the pans, and also as a means of attaching the pans to the wallsof the column. Each alternate pan is attached to the opposite side ofthe inner wall of the column, so that the contents of each falls uponthe one immediately below, and, as Seen in Fig. 4, a row ofperforations, a, is formed at the lower outer rim or angle of the pansfor the escape of the liquor in fine jets, whereby its alcohol is themore readily separated or volatilized.

The boiler or doubler It may be of any suitable construction, though Iprefer the use of one of superior steaming capacity, in order toeconomize fuel, and in this instance have represented a horizontaltwo-flue boiler with a discharge -pipe, V, controlled by a suitable I00cock H, and is directed either cook or valve. Directly beneath thecolumn and above the water-line of the boiler is a pan or catch-basin,S, from which proceeds a pipe, T, preferably curved, as shown, andperforated at the water-line, as at b. It is so shaped as to form a trapand passed out from the boiler at the Water-line, and may, if desired orfound necessary, be bent to form a second trap, V, or even a third orfourth trap.

P is the ordinary condenser containing the worm connected at its upperend to the pipe 0, and discharging by pipe 40 into the sealed testingand receiving tun or tub Y. This latter is provided with a stirrer, c,Fig. 2, operated by a crank-handle, d, upon the outside, or byconnection with some part of the machinery, and by means of which itscontents can be mixed when it is desired to make a test of the strengthof the whisky.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The first distillationbeing effected, the product enters the tank A, where it is allowed toaccumulate in sufficient quantity to permit the pump to workcontinuously from the beginning to the end of a days work. From the tankE the product passes through the through the heating-drum J or directlythrough the pipe I to the still head or column, or part through both,according as it is desired to render thespirit stronger or weaker. If itis found after a test that the spirit is running too strong, it isdirected through the drum J, which, by the action of the heat, weakensit; or, if it is running too weak, it is cut off from the drum anddirected through the pipe I; or, to equalize it, apart may be directedthrough both channels.

It will be readily understood that the ac tion of the heating-drum uponthe singlings is such that it raises the temperature thereof before itenters the column N, so that the condensive effect of the singlings uponthe ascending column of vapor is decreased,thereby permittingthe saidvapor to more effectively act upon and volatilize the alcohol in thedescending singlings, and resulting in decreasing the strength of theliquor as it passes to the condenser.

Entering the head of the column, the product passes down from shelf toshelf, and isacted upon by the vapor arising from the boiler, which,volatilizing the alcohol, carries it off through the pipe 0 to thecondenser. In this manner the heavier matter or refuse containing thefusel-oil, and termed backings, reaches the pan S, and is conveyed offthrough the pipe T and discharged as refuse. By means of the aperture bthe boiler is kept supplied with backings to maintain a constant level.In this way the greater part of the baokings and fusel-oilis conveyeddirectly off, and the deleterious effects of the fusel-oil on the whiskyare avoided, for it is discharged before it can be subjected to asufficient degree of heat to volatilize it. At the same time fuel issaved by not running the entire quantity of baekings into the doublerWVhile the traps are made in pipe T to prevent the escape of steam, yetshould an ob; struction occur in the worm or other pipes leading fromthe column the steam would blow out the pipe T, and by so doing wouldgive warning of the obstruction.

I am aware of the operation of Derosnes still, described in DuplaisTreatise on the Manufacture and Distillation of Alcoholic Liquors,Philadelphia, 1871, page 54, and I do not therefore claim, broadly,anything disclosed in said publication.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. The process ofdistillation, consisting in causing steam to ascend in a column, raisingthe temperature of singlings and regulating it by addition of unheatedsinglings, and then admitting the singlings to the column to de scendtherein and be acted upon by the ascend ing vapor, and finallycondensing the resultant liquor, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in an apparatus for the reduction of impurities inproducts of distillation, of the pipe I and heater J, communicating witha common supply, a heating-vessel, substantially as described, throughwhich the pipe G" passes, both said pipes and heat ers and a condensercommunicating with a column at the upper portion thereof, and a boileror doubler located at or near the base of said column, substantially asand for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, in an apparatus for the reduction of impurities inproducts of distillation, of pipe I and heater J, communicating with acommon supply, a heating-vessel, substantially as described, throughwhich the pipeG passes and intersects the pipe I, said pipe I and acondenser communicating with a column at the upper portion thereof, anda boiler ordoubler located at or near the base of .said column, as andfor the purpose specified.

. 4. The combination and arrangement of the tank A, pump B, pipes I andF, tank E, pipes G, G, and I, coil K, drum J, column N, doubler R, pipe0, condenser P, and tub Y and stirrer therefor, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

JOHN G. IEDEN.

Witnesses: p

T. G. ELLERHORST, ALBERT EI-IRHARDT.

